Top 5 poker celebrity cameos

Poker and casino themed scenes are a popular feature of many movies, so we have gathered a few clips of from the ones where true legends of poker make cameo appearances. We tried to find the funniest and strangest scenes for your viewing pleasure. 

Johnny Chan and Rounders

Let's start with a true classic. Probably the most well-known and successful poker movie ever, Rounders come out in 1998 under the direction of John Dahl and Matt Damon in the lead, playing a university student who wants to fund his education through high-stakes poker. Edward Norton plays his shady buddy brilliantly, in his element as the petty con artist just out from jail. According to rumors, in the wake of the huge success of the film, part two is being planned right now. 

Johnny Chan needs no introductions to those familiar with the world of professional poker. Chan was born in China but is a U.S. citizen, holding 10 World Series of Poker title bracelets, the last one for his win in 2015, worth $303,025. Alongside his income from poker, he has his own restaurant in the Las Vegas Stratosphere hotel and he also does consulting work for many of the Vegas casinos, as well as writing poker strategy books, like "Play Poker Like Johnny Chan". In the film, Mike McDermott (Matt Damon) reminisces about a bluff againts the legendary Johnny Chan at a Vegas poker tournament.

 

Lucky You and a swarm of poker celebrities

Another top pick in the poker themed movie category is the 2007 production of "Lucky You", where professional poker players play fantasy characters or themselves at the tournament tables. Huck Cheever (Eric Bana) is a professional gambler living in Las Vegas, who risks everything in his daily life, not just the casinos. His relationship has soured with his two-time poker champion father, L.C. Cheever (Robert Duvall). Huck meets the lovely singer Billie Offer (Drew Barrymore), just recently arrived in town. This chance meeting changes Huck's perspectives on life - he goes on to collect the entry fee for the World Championship, where he has to battle his father for the title. 

The film features cameo appearances by such stars of poker as Matt Savage, Cyndy Violette, Jennifer Harman (the first female player to win two WSOP titles), and Robert Williamson III. The movie was directed by Curtis Hanson (8 miles), who set out to capture the world of professional poker as it has never been before. It was far from being a blockbuster, but it has a righful place on our list due to the host of poker celebrities involved.

 

Daniel Negreanu vs Wolverine - X-Men Origins: Wolverine

We cannot leave out the most successful poker player who has ever lived - Daniel Negreanu, who has collected 6 WSOP bracelets and 2 World Poker Tour cups in his glorious career, amassing a total of $30,600,000.  He makes a short cameo in the film, where he plays Texas Hold’em with Gambit. When Wolverine wants to join the game, Negreanu laughs cynically. The 2009 film was a huge success both in American, as well as foreign cinemas - the film had a budget of $150 million and raked in $374 million from just boy office sales! Hugh Jackman, as always, was superb as Wolverine and even though Negreanu's cameo is only a few seconds short, he has been immortalized in the Marvel universe, adding to his legendary status.

Negreanu has also appeared in other movies, like  "The Grand" and the previous film "Lucky You", moreover, he played in Katy Perry' clip for "Waking Up in Vegas". The pro finally made the poker hall of fame last year and he is one of the most popular members of Team Pokerstars.

 

Phil Hellmuth and the music video

The 14-time WSOP champion Phil Hellmuth chose a different strategy and decided to try his acting chops in a video clip rather than the silver screen. Hellmuth has been a pro since 1989, with winnings over $18,000,000. Known for his big mouth, the choice for the collabration with rapper and actor Ludacris (alias Christopher Brian Bridges) was a given for the „Battle of Sexes” studio album feature song „Sex Room”. The 2010 album made its debut at the top of the American Billboard 200 list and sold 137,000 copies in the first week. The story of the video bears a close resemblance  to the events of "Hangover", and the setting is also Las Vegas.

 

Deal

The film tells the story of Alex (Bret Harrison), whose sole wish is to play poker against the best of the best. The kid has the skills but his parents would prefer he attends college, especially after bombing his first live televised tournament. However, luck puts him in the path of an old-school veteran player, Tommy Vinson, played by Burt Reynolds. Vinson takes the young aspirant under his wings and teaches him all the tricks of the game. The 2008 film was directed by Gil Gates Jr, and even though it wasn't a huge success, it deserves its place on the list, since such names make their appearances as Phil Laak, Antonio Esfandiari, Chris Moneymaker, Greg Raymer, Isabelle Mercier and Mike Sexton. All the pros play themsleves in this one.